Yahoo News Today's news: Latest headlines for the UK on Monday 11 January
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— Today's top story in 60 seconds —
PM raises concerns about rule-breakers as experts call for tighter lockdown
What happened?
Boris Johnson has warned lockdown may need to be tightened if the rules are not “properly observed”. The PM said the regulations would be kept “under constant review” and that people "need to focus". But experts argue it is the rules themselves, rather than compliance, that are ineffective at curbing soaring infections.
Is there evidence of widespread rule-breaking?
Lockdown laws state that people are permitted to leave the house to exercise outdoors with one other person – a more lenient position than during the first lockdown. On Monday, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi warned against socialising under the guise of outdoor exercise after pictures emerged of large numbers of people in parks and public spaces at the weekend. Later, health secretary Matt Hancock urged people to stay at home and "act like you have the virus". Health expert Dr Zubaida Haque accused ministers of "attempting to shift the blame to the public for a more lax lockdown".
Policing row
Amid confusion over the scope of the rules, two women who received £200 fixed penalty notices after travelling to a reservoir for a walk around five miles from their homes have had their fines rescinded. Derbyshire Police apologised after the women were told that bringing cups of tea on their walk meant it did not count as exercise.
Read more from our partners
Matt Hancock says Boris Johnson was right to go on bike ride (Yahoo News UK)
Health secretary warns NHS under ‘significant pressure’ (PA Media)
Support bubbles won’t be removed during lockdown (The Independent)
—The big coronavirus stories today—
2.3m people given vaccine in UK
The number of people in the UK to have been given a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 2.3 million, according to the latest government figures. So far, nearly 400,000 second doses have been administered. Seven mass vaccination centres opened across England on Monday to administer jabs. Read the full story here. (Sky News)
UK economy will get worse before it gets better
Rishi Sunak has warned the UK economy will “get worse before it gets better” following the latest lockdown. The chancellor told MPs that more than 800,000 people have lost their jobs since February, and cautioned that the “road ahead will be tough”. Read the full story here (Sky News)
Morrisons to ban people with no mask
Morrisons has said it will refuse to serve people who do not wear face masks in its stores, unless they have a medical reason. Chief executive David Potts said: “Those who are offered a face covering and decline to wear one won’t be allowed to shop at Morrisons unless they are medically exempt. Read the full story here (The Guardian)
Whitty warning over outdoor queues
Chris Whitty has warned that queuing outdoors could increase the risk of spreading coronavirus. England's chief medical officer said the new variant of the virus “undoubtedly” makes every outdoor situation “slightly more dangerous”. He dismissed the idea that fleeting contact in the street, such as a jogger running past, could be a risk. Read the full story here (Yahoo News UK)
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— What else happened today? —
Reading terrorist handed life sentence
The Reading terror attacker who murdered three men in a park in a “swift, ruthless and brutal” knife attack has been handed a whole-life sentence. Khairi Saadallah, 26, fatally stabbed friends James Furlong, 36, Dr David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, on 20 June last year. Read the full story here. (Yahoo News UK)
Democrats move to impeach Trump
Democrats have formally introduced resolutions to impeach Donald Trump for a second time. The president is accused of "incitement of insurrection" after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building on 6 January. A vote on proceeding with impeachment will be held on Wednesday. Read the full story here (The Independent)
Sex and the City back for new series
Sex And The City is set to return for a “new chapter” – but without actress Kim Cattrall. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis will star in And Just Like That, a new TV series featuring their characters Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte. Read the full story here (Evening Standard)
Children rescued from migrant boat
Three children have been rescued from the English Channel after their migrant boat got into difficulty. They were among 30 people picked up in French waters, after their boat was spotted by a ferry. Border Force officers were also active off the UK coast on Monday. Read the full story here (Guardian)
